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^ - 0 o m t 4 . 0 ' o. *' * . • * /\ 







-Life Of_ 

Abraham Lincoln 

In Verse- 

By BENJ. J. GUNN 
»/ 

Girard, Kansas 



Delivered by the Author at Lincoln's Tomb 
the Thirtieth Anniversary of his Death 


Copyright l‘M4 
Price 25c 






















MASONIC WORKING TO'OLS. 

The Twenty-Four Inch Gauge does teach 
Free Masona to divide their time 
Into three equal parts, with each 
Devoted to a task sublime: 

The service of our God comes first. 

With members of the Craft distressed; 

Life’s daily work should be rehearsed, 

And then refreshment, sleep and rest. 

The Common Gavel teaches man 
The vices of life to discard, 

To live upon a higher plan, 

And well his character to guard: 

If Masons thus the Gavel use. 

To shape their lives before they die. 

The Master then will not refuse 
Admission to the Lodge on high. 

We use the true Masonic Plumb 
Our perpendiculars to raise, 

And Craftsmen by its use become 
Upright and manly in their 'ways: 

Before his fellow-man and God 

Uprightly should the Mason walk— 

His way the way that Jesus trod— 

His talk the same as Christians’ talk. 

The Square employed by Masons all 
To shape thc-ir deeds is Virtue’s Square; 

And Craifckmer, should obey its call, 

And heed)it$ lessons everywhere: 

Let Masdns thus their lives improve: 

When Death’s cold winds come sighing round. 
Their souls will rise to God above, 

Where peace eternal will be found. 

The Level teaches that all men 
Are equally the sons of God, 

Who are to be forgiving when 
Upon Time’s level they all trod 
Unto that undiscovered land 
From which no traveler returns, 

Where, seated at God’s own right hand, 

The Mason precious wisdom learns. 

The Trowel teaches us to spread 
Love and affection’s strong cement, 

Thai hea t to heart, we may be wed 
Into a noble band content, 

Where no contention can exist 
Except that emulation we 
Are taught to practice, to assist 
Us best to work and best agree. 


ABRAHAM 


LINCOLN 


BY BENJ. J. GUNN 


Kentucky is his native state, 

And February twelve the date, 

And eighteen hundred nine the year, 
When Lincoln, born to parents dear, 
First opened wide his baby eyes 
And looked about with glad surprise 
And filled his parents’ hearts with joy, 
Who blessed God for their,baby boy. 

At sev’n he left his native home, 

And did to Indiana come. 

Far different from movers now, 

He walked behind and drove the cow. 
They settled in a wilderness, 

Where he became soon motherless. 

To Illinois the father moved, 

Together with the son he loved. 

Young Lincoln now was twenty-one; 
His labors on the farm were done. 

The lessons l earned alone at night 
While seated by the fire’s dim light 
Teach this important lesson still: 
“There is a way where there’s a will.” 
Without a teach r or a guide, 

He knowledge gained, because he tried. 


— 2 — 


Flatboatman twice and clerk a year, 
Began young Lincoln his career, 

Not dreaming of his future great 
When called to rule a mighty state. 

He little knew the time would come 
When he would suffer matyrdom 
And, like our Lord on Calvary, 

Yield up his life to make men free, 

A captain in the Black Hawk war. 
Where Davis the conspirator, 

Was a lieutenat in the ranks, 

And won the country’s sincere thanks. 
He led a military life 
Until the Indian’s bloody knife 
Was laid aside and peace was come 
To bless the pioneer’s new home. 

'i 

When he had been two years a man 
He for the legislature ran. 

Two hundred eighty-four votes giv’n 
In his own precinct, he lost sev’n; 

Yet later in the same campaign 
His favorite could not obtain 
That vote: one hundred fifty-five 
Above Clay Jackson did receive. 

Defeated in his first campaign, 

At twenty-five he ran again, 

And went two hundred votes ahead 
Of the companions whom he led. 

The youngest member there but one, 
His talents were surpassed by none. 
He stood a giant six feet four 
Upon that legislative floor. 

©CL A 381606 

OCT I 1914 

/ H-o / 

\ 


— 3 — 


For eight years thus he served the state, 
Retiring not until the date 
Of eighteen hundred forty-three, 

Then practiced law successfully. 

In thirty-six was license giv’n, 

To Springfield moved in thirty-sev’n. 

In forty-two Miss Mary Todd 
Was by Attorney Lincoln wooed. 

In eighteen hundred forty-four 
Was Mr. Lincoln called once more, 

To guide his party o’er the way 
And carry Illinois for Clay. 

Throughout her length and breadth he spoke 
Hut they could not beat James K. Polk. 

Who did unto the White House go, 

And wage a war with Mexico. ... 

As an elector then he ran. 

In forty-six, to lead the van, 

Again was Abraham brought forth 
Recause of his great moral worth. 

He made for Congress a good race 
And was elected to the place. 

Of Whigs he was the only one 
Sent from that state to Washington. 

When Lincoln first to Congress went 
He mingled with the prominent: 

Calhoun, Bell, Benton, Douglas, King, 

And Hamlin made the Senate ring, 

Wnile Daniel Webster in debate 
Stood foremost of the fifty-eight; 

All these were men of great renown 
Whose names to us are handed down. 


—4 


John Quincy Adams, who soon died, 

And Caleb Smith stood side by side 
With Stephens and with Robert Toombs, 
Unmindful of their future dooms; 

Jake Thompson of the “Sunny South/’ 

And Richard Thompson in his youth, 

With Andrew Johnson and with Cobb, 
Made millions think and nations throb. 

In eighteen hundred forty-nine 
Resumed he private life again. 

The famous compromise of Clay, 

Whose eloquence could millions sway. 
Disturbed not the serenity 
Of Lincoln, who suceessfuly 
For many years before the wa- 
Plead law before the Springfield bar. 

The Kansas and Nebraska bill. 

By Douglas introduced, did rill 
The North with many protests loud; 
Convention and convention vowed 
That slavTy should not further go. 

Lest it should Fieedom overthrow'; 

Still after fierce debate it passed, 

Repealed all compromise at last. 

Freed from the curse of slavery 
Designed to be forever free. 

Far north of the dividing line, 

Young Kansas bowed at Ereedom’s shrine; 
Yet Douglas thought to auction slaves 
Where Freedom’s banner proudly waves; 
Ambitious to be President, 

To crime his influence w'as lent. 


— 5 — 


These measures called our hero forth, 

To aid bis own beloved North 
And slav’ry’s onward march repel, 
Contending man should never sell 
His negro slaves on Kansas plain, 

Where people Freedom would maintain. 
“The people of the South” said he, 

“Shall not extend their slavery.” 

Now Lincoln led the partisans 
Who called themselves Republicans, 

And met the “Little Giant” twice 
In joint debate. As by a vise 
Was Dougles held; and never more 
In eighteen hundred fifty-four, 

Would he meet Lincoln in debate, 

Who was an able advocate. 

\,iv- 

In eighteenbjintep .fi fty-five 
The people dijd^ r Liii,coln give 
Some five and lcup^y,for 
The honored place of S^flftpr; 

But Lyman Trumbull was the man 

Who burst the Democratic plan ... , it. 

And to the Senate Chamber went. 

There Freedom's cause to represent. 

In eighteen hundred fifty-six 
In politics did Lincon mix, 

And canvassed o’er the “prairie state” 

In favor of,his candidate, 

John Charles Fremont, who almost won 
The state. Ahead did BigjftU.nm, 

And was eiected governor 
Instead of his competitor. 


— 6 — 


In eighteen hundred fifty-eight 
The most remarkable debate 
The nations of the world had seen 
Occurred in Illinois between 
Judge Douglas, the firm partisan. 

And Lincoln, the Republican. 

The latter, tall and bony, met 
The former, low and heavy set. 

The Nation waited eagerly 
To hear glad shouts of victory. 

That grand old state of Illinois 
Had many patriotic boys 
Supporting Lincoln in that fight 
And bravely battling for the right; 

Yet others stood by Douglas then, 
Unmindful of their fellow-men. 

On June sixteen Abe Lincoln spoke 
At Springfield, and the silence broke; 
Judge Douglas July nine replied. 

And at Chicago told his side; 

There Lincoln the sueceeding night 
Continued bravely in the fight; 

July sixteen at Bloomington 
Judge Douglas greater laurels won; 

At Springfield stood both men next night. 
Continuing their gallant fight; 

The people took an interest, 

And it became soon manifest 
That these two leaders must debate. 

Each with the other o'er the state; 

The “Battle of the Giants" soon 
Began one summer afternoon. 


—7— 


At length on August twenty-one 
At Ottawa was it begun; 

At Freeport August twenty-sev’n 
The second joint debate was giv’n; 

And at Jonesboro then the third 
September the fifteenth occurred; 

The Charleston people fart her north 
September eighteen heard the fourth; 

October sev’n the fifth took place 
Before the Galesburg populace 
October thirteen Quincy met, 

And listened to the sixth debate; 

At Alton was the sev’nth'and last. 
October fifteen. ;; A J rid thus passed 
The great debate of fifty-eight 
Between Judge Douglas and his mate. 

The writer will will not now devote 
Sufficient time and space to quote 
Each sentence uttered by each man 4 ’• 
A8 he for Senator then ran. 

For sixty minutes'one would speak, 

The other ninety minutes take; 

The first would thirty minutes more, 

Ifi closing, occupy the floor. 

Now Lincoln fought the great campaign 
The cause of Freedom to maintain; 

While slavery might never end, 

It's blighting curse should not extend; 

As he denounced all servittidte 

With prophecy he seemed endued; ' 

“For this United States,” said he,. 

“Can not exist half slave, half free." 


— 8 — 


He did not claim the negro race 
Should occupy the white man’s place; 

But did contend he should be free. 
Enjoying sweetest liberty; 

“For in the negro’s right to eat 
The bread he earns by honest sweat 
He is the equal of the white, 

The judge, myself, or proudest knight.” 

Now Lincoln asked Judge Douglas why. 
When Kansas and Nebraska lie 
North of the line in twenty made, 

That compromise was not obeyed; 

The North and South were then at peace, 
But agitation did not cease; 

For Douglas would the law repeal 
Regardless of his country’s weal. 

The Supreme Court had handed down 
Decisions he would never own 
To be the law the fathers gave 
When first the Stars and Stripes did wave. 
“We will the Court reverse,” he said, 
“And give the rightful law instead; 

We will continue in this fight 
Until this issue’s settled right. 

“Come, all ye sons of Illinois, 

Oppose the serpent that destroys 
The freeman’s love of liberty 
And substitutes foul slavery; 

Let us our country’s laws obey, 

Yet to the Southern masters say, 

'You shall not bring your wretched slave 
Outside the fifteen states you have.’ ” 


9 


i • 


» 


Judge Douglas could not well reply 
To arguments none could deny: 

He was for Freedom’s banher,'too, 

Yet often was compelled'td do, 

For sake v bf harmony and loVe 
Of peace, what he aid not approve: 

He claimed jthat Lincoln’s friends were bent 
On breaking up the government. , 

In fact, he wa§ unfortunate ' 

Throughout file whole of that debate. 

He hoped to be Executive 

Ere he.shoald three years longer live, 

Yet was compelled oft' to' record 
Expressions that tft'i >outh abhorred, i 
In order that his Northern friend 
Might stand by him. until the find. 

At leng^th"the great discussion closed, 

And people commonly supposed 
That Douglas soon 'would be returned r 
As Senator'; but they soon learned 
That gallant Lincoln had achieved 
A triumph gr^atf/and h&d received 
About three thousand ballots more 
Than Douglas, great orator. 

The legislative districts Were 
Established Sin as to confer 
Advantage where there should be none; 

Se Dpuglas Went to Washington 
Against’the wishes Of his state. 

Which chose the other candidate. 

Though beaten, it was no defeat 
That Lincoln was compelled to meet. 


-10- 


In eighteen hundred fifty-nine 
Within Ohio’s border line 
Judge Douglas did his very best, 

And his opponents sent out West, 
Requesting Abraham to come, 

And help avert their pending doom; 

So Lincoln made two speeches great 
To people of the “buckeye state.” 

When eigteen hundred sixty came 
The Yankee schoolboy Lincoln’s name, 
Synonymous with liberty, 

Would often shout aloud in glee; 

And Lincoln could not then withstand 
New England people’s great demand 
For speakers in their spring campaign. 
But soon was on the stump again. 

Upon New Hampshire’s granite hills. 
Beside the Massachusetts mills, 
Beneath Connecticut’s green trees, 
Before Rhode Island’s balmy breeze, 
Among the rugged pines of Maine, 
Amid Vermont’s fast sprouting grain, 
And at the city of New York, 

Did Lincoln do effective work. 

On February twenty-sev’n 
At Cooper Institute was giv’n 
The last of Lincoln’s speeches great; 
“The South would have us educate 
Our children that the North is wrong: 
But while the freeman has a tong&e, 

Let us believe that right makes might 
And stand forever for the right.” 



— 11 — 


The great convention of that year 
Did at Chicago soQn. appear; 

And tnere assembled May sixteen 
Four hundred four anti sixty men 
To nominate a candidate; , 

And all the people (fid await 
The action of that,gallant band,. 

That did fcr Freedom firmly stand- 

The eighteenth of tlie month of May 
The candidates were in array; 

The friends of Seward ofT^ew York 
And Lincoln,s friends did noble work',... 
Like Dayton, proud New Jersey’s son, 
And Pennsylvania’s Cameron,. 
Missouri’s loyal Edward Bates, 

McLean and Chase, Ohio’s mates. 

On the first ballot Seward notes 
One hundred three and seventy votes. 
While Lincoln got t\yice fifty-one, 

And fifty went for, v £ameron; 

Just nine.and forty favorer} Chase, 

With Bates one fewer in the race;* 
Fourteen for Dayton, while McLean 
Had twelve; then scattered ( \vere sixteen. 

The second ballot., bdin£ o’er, 

Showed Seward with one eighty : four; 
One eighty-one did Lincoln show, 

And Chase received but forty-two; 

While Edward Bates got' five times sev’n 
But ten votes were to Dayton giv’n; 
McLean got eight,‘and four votes then 
Were cast for other noted men. 



— 12 — 


On the third ballot and the last 
Twice ninety were for Seward cast; 
While twenty-four to Chase were giv’n, 
Did Mr. Bates get twice elev’n; 

Now Lincoln had two thirty-one 
When all the voting had been done; 

The sev’n remaining delegates 
Supported other candidates. 

At length four gallant '‘buckeye” boys 
To Abraham of Illinois 
Transferred their votes; two thirty-five 
Did Mr Lincoln then receive. 

Wild shouts of jo., then cleft the air 
And Lincoln’s name was ev’ry where; 
‘Twas certain each Repjblican 
Would be content with such a man. 

Then for Vice President was ta’en 
H Hamlin, of the state of Maine; 

Last letters three of Abraham 
With the first three of his last name 
Together do the surname trace 
Of him who ran for second place 
No case can be found similiar 
Upon the Nation's calendar. 

The Democrats could not unite 
So as to make a gallant fight, 

But named three diff’rent candidates 
To govern the United States; 

Nor did their principles agree 
As to the rights of slavery, 

The writer now will give, in main, 

The issues of that great campaign. 


—13- 


Now Lincoln held that slavery 
Is wrong, but must protected be 
Where it then was; still servitude 
From Freedom’s home would he exclude; 
Our territories, one and all, 

Should never hear the slaver’s call; 

That neither Congress nor the court 
Into free states could slaves import. 

Then Breckenridge held slav’ry right, 
Which, when transplanted to a site 
Where people f reedom did enjoy. 

The Congress never could destroy, 

And courts had .no right to impair, 

But must pro.tect it ev’rywhere; 

For slaves were simply property 
That should remain in slavery. 

Judge Douglas held that, wrong or right, 

The territory people white 

Alone had power to decide 

The laws by which they would abide; 

The Constitution and the Court 

Should always be the last resort; 

No others had the right to say 
That slav’ry should or should not stay. 

Bell, of the state of ’’Tennessee, 

Could not with the above agree: 

“The Constitution of the.land, 

The Union of the States so grand, 
Enforcement of the lawM we own;” 

He held these principles alone. 

And would no^others then indorse. 
Imploring men to take his course. 


—14— 


The great campaign had scarce begun 
Until it seemed to ev’ry one 
That Lincoln from the very start 
Stood nearest to the Nation’s heart 
The South would no election heed, 

But threatened quickly to secede, 

And take the sword’s arbitrament; 

If Lincoln should be President. 

Now when the great election came 
The name of honest Abraham 
Was heralded the country o’er 
From Northern lakes to Southern shore 
As the successful candidate 
The rebel leaders would not wait 
Till the succeeding March the fourth 
To leave the hated loyal North. 

Now when the then electors met 
Twice ninety votes did Lincoln get, 

And Breckenridge thrice twenty-four, 

With twelve for Douglas and no more; 
John Bell received three times thirteen. 
Ere many months did intervene 
Brave Lincoln left his Western home 
And journeyed Eastward to his doom. 

At many cities on the route 
Good Lincoln kindly did salute 
The gathered throngs, yet ftom his mouth 
Fell only kind words for the South. 

He safely passed through Baltimore, 
Where threats of murder thererofore 
Were made against the man whose soul 
With kindness for the South was full. 


—15— 


i 


He reached the city in the night, 

And did his many friends delight. 
Inaugurated President 
Of an imperiled government, 

He held the olive branch of peace 
In his inaugural address, 

And bade the Southern people yield 
Without a bloody battle field. 

Of that sublime address each word 
The Southern- people should have heard; 
They should have hearkened to that man 
Before the Civil war began; 

He did not their rash course approve, 
But uttered words of truth and love: 
Since Christ salvation ,did impart 
Than Lincoln’s was no kinder heart. 

“I have no purpose,” ‘uttered he, 

‘‘To interfere with slavery; 

The Constitution, gives no right 
To take the black man from the white; 
This Union is perpetual, 

And execute its laws I shall; 

I will this government defend, 

And crush resistance in the end; 

A | v^. 

“Secession is but anarchy; 

You can not leave us peaceably;,y 
The states we can not separate, 

Nor build a wall between them great; ^. 
Can aliens treaties make as well. 

As friends make laws by which to dwell? 
Preserve the government I must, 

And not betray my sacred trust; 





— 16 — 


“Thin government will not assault 
The South, but yours will be the fault 
If war is forced upon this land; 

I shall soon, with uplifted hand, 

Swear to preserve, protect, defend 
The Constitution to the end. 

You have not registered an oath 
In Heav’n to violate your troth 

“My friends, I still am loathe to close 
I call you friends: I have no foes; 

We enemies must never be; 

O let us live in harmony: 

Let us recal the Nation’s braves, 

And still defend their honored graves; 
Let us avoid a civil war, 

And from our flag erase no star.” 

How that great, just, and kindly brain 
When twilight had begun to wane, 

With his abiding faith in God, 

Must have petitioned as he trod 
The White House floor that awful night 
That God would ever guide him right! 
What awful tears of agony 
He must have shed from sympathy! 

Composing Lincoln’s cabinet, 

Which will be written here complete. 
Were Seward, Pates aud Cameron; 

And Chase who had against him run 
In the convention; Smith and Blair, 

And Mr Welles were also there: 

The Senate did these men confirm 
For Lincoln’s Presidential term. 


—17— 


The South had seized the Southern forte, 
The navy cru’sed in foreign ports, 

The army was at points remote, 

The Nation money was without; 

With scattered armies, credits gone, 

And arsenals all seized upon, 

It was indeed a trying hour 

When Lincoln came to place and pow’r 

Impatient stood the Nation now 
With throbbing heart and fevered brow; 
Each section thought the other dare 
Not proclamation make of war; 

The Southern rebels even stood 
Still hesitating to shed blood; 

Far better had it been for them, 

Had they heard “Father Abraham.” 

The threatened danger came at last; 

The war was come, the die was cast; 

All hope of compromise was o’er; 

On Friday morn, at half past four, 

On April twelve, in sixty-one 
The great Rebellion was begun 
When Ruffin of Virainia fired 
On Sumter; as the South desired, 

This unified the loyal North; 

And when on Monday issued forth 
A call from Lincoln's faithful pen 
For five and sev’ntv thousand men 
Three hundred thousand volunteered, 

And to the Union cause adheered; 

They left the bench, the forge, the plow, 
To battle for their country now. 


—13— 


The Northern women, too, were brave 
And to their sons and husbands gave 
Increas-ed courage to go South, 

And face the belching cannon’s mouth; 

They bade their best beloved go, 

To die the death that soldiers Know; 

The woman was the conqueror; 

God bless the women of the war! 

■ .. • - 

The writer will not herein trace 
Each march and battle that took place 
Beneath the lofty Southern pines. 

Ten thousand times ten thousand lihes 
Would not tell one-ten-thousandth part 
Of how the President’s great heart 
Beat w ith sincerest sympathy 
For those who fought so manfully. 

" • • * • \ • r* 

Some Massachusetts volunteers 
In Baltimore with rebel jeers 
Were greeted by the populace 
On April nineteen. At that place 
Was shed the first of loyal blood 
With which the country later fldwed. 

With passions pitched co greatest height, • ’ 

Men then demanded bitter fight. M: ^ 

.. - - 

The Congress met on July four, 

And viewed the situation o’er; 

It voted money and supplies, 

And soon began to realize 
Against domestic foes they fought, 

Whose yielding would be dearly bought; 
They had to shed a brother’s h 1 - 
Whea at the battle's front the ; 


. t i I-. 



— 19 — 


From Lincoln’s purpose to preserve 
The government he did not swerve. 
Requested to emancipate 
The Southern slaves, h#chose to wait 
Until a stern necessity 
Made it a means of victory. 

He favored manumission slow 

Till all the slaves should Freedom know. 

A message he to congress sent, 

.Suggesting that the government 
Request the masters all to give 
To slaves their freedom; and receive 
A compensation adequate 
He urged the Congress not to wait 
So very long before it passed 
That offer of importance vast. 

“If border states will but comply 
With such suggestions, soon will die 
The Oligarchy of the South, 

That interferes with Freedom’s growth; 
The cost of war is growing fast, 

And if it shall much longer last, 

The money spent will greater be 
Than that reqnired the slaves to free. 

“Not only this, but gallant braves. 

Both North and South, in soldiers’ graves 
Are being by the thousands placed; 

The land is desolute and waste; 

To stop the further flow of blood 
Will be an action great and good.’’ 

The Cong r eqy,)hftpded his advice, 

And past^ibb# ^leasmein a trice. 


— 20 — 


Tho South rejected Lincoln's plan 
And spurned the counsels of the man 
Whose words it had done well to heed. 
Had the unhappy slaves been freed, 

As prayed for by the President, 

Then had the periled government 
Been rescued from disloyalty; 

But such results were not to be. 

That battle of Antietam came, 

And then determined Abraham 
That, if McClellan conquered Lee, 

He would at once declare slaves free. 
Upon the soilof Maryland 
Did these contending armies stand 
And fight as only brave men can 
And die as dies the valiant man. 

■ .- ■ j ■ 

McClellan’s boys fought well that day. 
And drove the rebel hosts away. 

Lee could not then the North invade, 
And loyal cities cannonade. 

At length September twenty-two 
A proclamation Lincoln drew, 
Emancipating ev’ry black, 

Unless th§ir masters would come back. 

“On January one,” said he, 

“I will set ev’ry negro free 
Within each now rebellious state 
Unless you shall before that date 
Lay down ydur‘arftts, return to peace, 
And let this bloody struggle cease; 

But if by January one 

You come back, it shall not be done.” 


— 21 — 


The first of January came, 

And Abraham in Freedom's name 
Did then the slave emancipate, 

And an immortal fame create; 

For when the things of earth are o’er 
And all have reached the golden shore 
And shout the praises of the King, 

They will of noble Lincoln sing. 

The soldiers read the document 
That Lincoln wrote; and then was rent 
The air witn shouts of liberty, 

Of Lincoln, and of victory. 

The armies of the Southland heard 
Thd message that they deemed absurd, 
And yet they knew it did portend 
Destruction to them in the end. 

In June, with eighty thousand men, 

Did Robert Lee start North again; 
Across the state of Maryland 
Uninterrupted went that band 
Of Southern rebels to invade 
The Northland; but its course was stayed 
The first day of the month July 
Beneath the Pennsylvania sky. 

At Gettysburg three days they fought. 
But in the end accomplished naught; 

The flower of Lee’s army fell 
Before the Union shot and shell, 

And ere he did Potomac cross 
Full forty thousand was his loss; 

Effective was the bloody check 
That left Lee’s army such a wreck. 


—22 


To this historic battle field, 

Where Southrens were compelled to yield 
To Northern valor, Lincoln (went f; ... .> *, 

November nineteen, to lament ,:r <■ 

The fallen dead, and dedicate ■ • w 

A hallowed spoto pon that date,. > * 

Of his address did Logan write: • . » 

It should be learned by schoolboy bright, 

‘'Back four score years and seven more 
Our fathers brought forth on this shore - , :v 

A Nation new, indibeoty - ^.,£1 

Conte ved, and dedicated free 
Unto the proposition plain, . . 

Created equal are all men^i ^ a . ux y 

In a great Civil war;are we • - r brtT 

Engaged now, testing bravery, 

“To see if any nation planned 
And dedicated so ca.i stand 

We’re met in a great battle plain.. p 

Of that war. Here we’ve come, and fain 
Would we a portion dedicate - , L v . 

Of that field as a fii.al plat. 

And resting place for those who gave,.- 

Their lives here to the Nation save. r ,, 

“It altogether fitting is 

And proper that we should do this, , , r 
But in a larger sense can we UtU . ... q; 

Not di dieate this ground, “said he, > 

• Nor hallow it, nor consecrate; j . ^ j. 

The dead and living brave men great 
Who struggled here have done that act, 

Above our pow’r to add, detract-; . «....# v- ^ 

••• ■ / V. 'v •'*! t , . vi. 


— 23 — 


“The world will little note nor long 
Remember what we say with tongue; 

But it can never quite forget 

What they did here, nor whom they met. 

Tt is for us, the living men, 

To dedicated be again 

To the unfinished work which they 

Who fought here have until today 

“Advanced so nobly, ’Tis for us 
To be here dedicated thus 
To the great task remaining still; 

Take from these honored dead we will 
Increased devotion to that cause 
For which they gave, without a pause. 
Last measure of devotion full; 

That highly we resolve and rule, 

“These deal shall not have died in vain; 
This Nation, under God, again 
Shall have a birth of Freedom o'er; 

That government of, by and for 
The people shall not perish off 
The earth.” Then having said enough, 
More eloquent than ancient Greek, 

Did Mr. Lincoln cease to speak. 

fn eighteen hundred sixty-four 
The delegates at Baltimore 
Did Mr. Lincoln nominate 
To be again the candidate; 

And slav’ry’s extirpation then 
Demanded all those gallant men, 

And that the war continue on 
Until the victory was won. 


— 24 — 


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The Democrats met, and proclaimed 
The war a failure; and then named - s ’ u 
As candidate McClellan, who . ^ ’... , 

Denounced the platform that they drew. ^ v 
Between such issues nos^e could doubt v 
That Lincoln would McClellan rout. 

The eighth day of Noveinber ehtne, ! ^ 

And people stood by Abraham. , w- 

New Jersey, also Delaware, /. % : 

Did with Kentucky state declare &■ 

A Democratic preference;.. 

But Lincoln had the confidence 
Of all the loyal people, who 
Elected him and Jonnson, too; 

Two hundred twelve -electors for 
And twenry-one against them were. 

On the succeeding March v the,.fourth:. , 

It was believed that soon the K .North * ; 

Would ring with sho.uts of. victory ] f . 

For triumphs of a state made free, 

When valiant hosts would proudly come . ; 

In peace unto the Northern home; 

So on inauguration day - .id ;i 

These blessed words did Lincoln say: - .* 

,» •* ijM* f 

“With malice tow-ard jione, for ajl ' ~ 

Sweet charity.” These words did fall/ * ^ . 

“With firmness in the right,” said he, 

“As God gives us the right to see, 

Let us strive on to finish ncny. /'. 

The work we’re in, renew 7 our vdw, 

Bind up the Nation’s wounds, and care 
For him who faced the battle’s glare; 


— 26 — 


"Hie widow and his orphan, too; 

And further, let us strive to do 
All which may cherish and achieve 
A just and lasting peace, to live 
Among ourselves and nations all/' 

These words from Lincoln’s lips did fall. 
Thus closed that eloquent address 
Designed to future ages blees. 

Ere forty days had come and gone 
The battles of the war were won; 

The rebel chieftian sheathed his sword. 
Obeyed the "silent soldiei’s” word; 

The South was overcome at last, 

But four long years of war had passed; 
The President had lived to hear 
The Federal’s triumphant cheer. 

Excessive happiness and joy 
Made Lincoln seem almost a boy; 

His heart was light, his careworn face 
Beamed forth with rays of perfect peace. 
While he enjoyed apparent youth, 

A villian known as John Wilkes Booth, 
With others, planned to Lincoln kill, 

And all the land with mourning fill. 

The day of murder did arrive— 

"Twas April fourteen, sixty-five. 

The President and cabinet, 

With U. S. Grant, at high twelve met. 
That they officialy might learn 
From Grant’s own lips the sweet return 
Of peace; and later in the day 
Did he to Mrs. Lincoln say: 


— 26 — 


“Four years of war, four now of peace, 

And then my public life will cease; 

We’ll go back to our home out West, 

And pass our days in quiet rest. 

That fatal night the Pi'esideht” . 

By invitation kindy went 
To Ford’s theater, where he met 
At half past ten o’clock his fate. 

Assassinated in the rear, , ; - 

The ball struck just behind the ear 
And penetrated to the brain. .* 

The coward did not long remain, 

But said, “To tyrants be it so. 

The South’s avenged;” then turned to go. 

The writer was two months of age 

The day Booth leaped thus from that stage 

Booth fled, but was by Laura Keene, 

As he escaped distinctly seen. 

Avengers being on his track, 

The murderer was soon brought back, 

A riddled corpse, to Washington: 

His fate was far too good a one 
For dastard villians such as he: 

His body was sunk in the sea. 

The weary vigils of that night 
In silence passed. The morning light 
Broke in upon a manly form 
That human blood no more would warm; 
The heart that beat within the breast 
Was then forever more at rest; 

Unconscious was the form, for Death 
Had come,* and borne away the breath! 



— 27 — 


Would that each reader could have been 
Permitted to behold that scene: 

The woman whom he loved in life, 

His fond, devoted, weeping wife; 

The statesman with a tearful eye; 

And other mourners standing by; 

All realized that God had come, 

And borne the liberator home. 

The news, the President was dead, 
Throughout the Nation swiftly spread. 
From Maine to far off Washington 
All knew the horrid deed was done. 

And could but indignation feel 
For cowards who would softly steal 
Behind an unsuspecting man, 

And send a bullet to his brain. 

Away from the Potomac grand, 

Across the state of Maryland, 

The Pennsylvania streams along. 

Ohio’s lofty beech among, 

On past the Indiana boys. 

Into the state of Illinois, 

The funeral procession went 
To bear a murdered President. 

Back to the place from whence he came 
Thus went the martyred Abraham; 

Vast multitudes at ev'ry place 
W'ere anxious to behold his face; 

And thousands, sobbing, turned away 
From Lincoln’s bier that April day. 

His death as keenly felt as though 
One of their own was laid as low. 


— 28 — 


The mansion where he used to dwell, < b 
That Springfield home he loved so well, 
Would never more reverberate 
With stories he would oft relate; 

The people on the busy street 
His well-known form no more would meet; 
Attorneys and the court in vain 
Would search for any greater brain. 

At Oak Ridge, near his Springfield home, 
His body to the open: tomb, 

With thousands t ere to weep and mourn, 
By gentle hands was kindly borne; 

The silent city of the dead 
Would henceforth be his lonely bed; 

The last sad rites then being done, 

The mourners left him all alone. 

Alone—away fiom cruel wars; 

Alone—beneath the Northern stars: 

Alone—with dews to kiss his grave; 

Alone—with Stars and Stripes to wave; 
Alone—enjoying peace and rest; 

Alone—mid prairies of the West; 

Alone—upon his coffin bed; 

Alone—alone—among the dead. 

A monument of marble white, 

About one hundred feet in height, 

With beautiful and costly base, 

Now marks his fina^esting place; 

A life size statue him stands, 

And looks away to.Sbdthern lands*. 

And holds the image of the pen 
With which he freed his fellow-men. 



— 29 — 


‘Tis said the marble crumbles now, 

And that the shaft will be brought low. 
Well, let it crumble to the dust 
And be forgotten, if it must; 

Then raise a smple, polished stone, 
Engrave the martyr’s name thereon; 
For Lincoln’s monument depends 
Not on the action of his friends. 

His name is written in that Book 
Within w'hich only angels look; 

To him it has been said, “Well done, 
Thou good and faithful, honored son.” 
Untimely was his tragic death, 

But when he drew h's final breath 
And paid the debt to Nature owed, 

His soul went straight up to its God, 

Now all of Lincoln’s deeds are done; 
For him the golden crown is won. 

Let us who read of him today 
Endeavor to keep in the way 
That leads to rest and perfect peace, 
Where trials and temptations cease; 
Then at the end of life we’ll meet 
Brave Lincoln on the golden street. 

The reader would deem incomplete 
A story that did not relate 
Some the tales about him told; 

For quite peculiar was his mold. 

An orator has aptly said 
That no ancestors Lincoln had, 

No fellows, and successors none; 

He was no type; he stood alone. 


— 30 — 


Wh^n asked to recognize the right 
Of Mr. Davis to indite 
A treaty, and as argument 
King Charles was named as precedent. 

To Seward were the men referred, 

As he could tell them what occurred: 

“I am reminded,” Lincoln said, 

“That Charles the First there lost his head. 

One day before Ben Butler’s corps 
Did Lincoln ride six miles or more; 

Three hundred yards away, the foe 
Could easily have laid him low; 

But Lincoln did to Butler say: 

“It will not do for me to today. 

The General-in-Chief of all, 

To seem afraid of rebel ball.” 

A man with age and sorrow bent 
One day approached the President, 

And asked a pardon for his son; 

The case was heard, the thing w r as done; 
Said Lincoln: “If your son dies not 
Unt 1 by ’further orders’ shot, 

My friend, you need have no more fears; 
He will exceeed Methus’lah’s years.” 

A Southern widow with kind s ul 
Asked Mr. Stanton to parole 
And give her back her only son, 

But Stanton said ‘twould not be done; 

The woman sadly turned away, 

But Lincoln did unto her say: 

“We’ll give you back your wayward bov 
And fill your loyal heart with with joy.” 


— 31 — 


One day a husband and his wife 
Asked him to spare her father’s life; 

So sadly did she tell the tale 
She did with Lincoln soon prevail; 

For his was a kind, tender heart. 

And sorrow made the tear drops start; 

He ordered the old man’s release. 

And hade him journey home in peace 

But years have come and sped away 
Since that eventful April day; 

For almost thirty years have passed 
Since martyred Lincoln breathed his last, 
While statesmen true stood round his bed, 
And bitter tears of grief did shed 
For him whose noble soul had gone 
Where pain and sorrow are unknown. 

The pages of our histr’y turn. 

And there once and forever learn 
That on our country’s roll of fame 
The brightest page is Lincoln’s name. 
While rebel bands forgot their trust. 

And trailed our banner in the dust, 

And plunged us in fraternal strife, 

And strove to crush the Nation’s life; 

This gallant son of Illinois 

Stood true, and called on Union boys. 

Who left their homes, so young and brave, 
To fill perchance a lon«ly grave 
Beneath a distant Southern sun, 
Remembered and caressed by none, 

That trom our flag not e'en one star 
Be plucked to deck the Southern bar. 


- 32 - 


How sad for us to contemplate 
The President’s then coming fate! 

For when the cruel war was done 
There still remained a hellish one, 

Who loved the South, but loathed the North, 
And, by incarnate fiends sent forth. 

He slew our well-beloved Chief, 

And plunged a Nation deep in grief. 

Near Springfield his remains now rest, 

While South, and North, and East, and West, 
All honor Lincoln, whose great soul 
With purest love was ever full. 

The months and years still come and go, 

But man will never fully know 
The pain he felt, acute, severe, 

Until eternity is near. 



5 


ODD FELLOWSHIP. 


By nature, by adoption, odd, 

We own the Fatherhood of God; 
Accepting in good faith this plan, 

We hail the brotherhood of man ; 

From sea to sea, from gulf to lakes, 

The good man and the true it takes, 

It binds him with a deathless grip. 

And Jie adores Odd Fellowship. 

The sick to visit ev’ry day 
And weekly benefits to. pay 
Are deeds for which our laws provide; 
Our daily tasks are iaid aside; 

The bed of pain with care we guard, 
The progress of disease retard; 

We cool the brow, make moist the lip, 
And practice thus Odd Fellowship. 

Relieve the poor distressed we will. 

And bid the troubled heart be still; 

We t rn iway from needless sighs 
And look by faith beyond the skies, 
Where all Odd Fellows hope to go 
When done with mundane scenes below; 
Up therewith Christ our Lord we’ll sip. 
And always hail Odd Fellowship. 

The dead we bury ’neath the sod; 

The soul is wafted to its Cod; 

We stand beside the bier and sigh 
That man is only born to die; 

We there deposit evergreens— 

Fair emblems of eternal scenes; 

The wife returns from her sad trip, 

And blesses still Odd Fellowship. 

The orphans now we educate 
And bring to an enlightened state; 

We cite to them examples good 
Of noble man and womanhood; 

We tell them how the father died, 

And how we staod the grave beside. 

And of the mother’s quiv’ring lip 
And they adore Odd Fellowship. 

For five score years less one and four. 
Upon Columbia’s verdant shore, 

From California unto Maine, 

Odd Fellowship has known no wane; 

Its history we hold most dear. 

Its principles we cherish here; 

We’ll never break our order’s grip. 

Rut always hai Odd Fellowship. 


Indorsed and Recommended by 

lion Geo. H. Hodges, 

Governor of Kansas 

lion. Victor Murdock 
Congressman Eighth Kansas 

Hon. P. P. Campbell 
Congressman Third Kansas 

Hon. A. J. Curran 

District Judge, Pittsburg. Kansas 

Prof. W. A. Brandenberg 

President State Normal, Pittsburg, Kails. 

And Many Others. 







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